ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Founding MembersThe Founding Members

European Coal and Steel Community Proposed by Schuman for peace in 1950 Formally established in 1951 by Treaty of Paris France, W. Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The

Netherlands, Italy Went on to sign Treaties of Rome

ECSC EURATOM EEC

Came to be known as EC International organisations governed by same set

of institutions UK changed policy on joining on EC

Issued for accession in 1961 Due to Suez crisis “Non” to the UK accession by French President

de Gaulle Due to fear of US influence

1973 - 1973 - First EnlargementFirst Enlargement

Accession of UK, Denmark, Ireland, Norway UK

French President de Gaulle no longer in office so UK no longer has barriers for entry

Colonies – the question of Gibraltar Norway

Question put to referendum – rejected Still adopts policies – Schengen, Europol etc Contributes to budget, member of EEA

1981 and 19861981 and 1986Mediterranean EnlargementsMediterranean Enlargements

Democracy returns to Greece, Spain and Portugal

Greece joins in 1981 Spain and Portugal in 1986 1985 – Greenland leaves the EC 1987 – Turkey and Morocco apply

Morocco not seen as European Turkey’s accepted, only received candidate

status in 2000, negotiations started in 2004

With the accession of the countries in 1981 and 1986: Population increased by 10% The area of the EU members increased by 20% The total GDP of the member states increased by

6.8% But the GDP per capita fell by 3.42%

1981 and 19861981 and 1986Mediterranean EnlargementsMediterranean Enlargements

Fourth Enlargement - EU-15Fourth Enlargement - EU-15

Prior to enlargement of 1995, East+West Germany reunified in 1990 East Germany part of EC, under “Germany”

EC becomes EU in 1993 - Maastricht Accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden Copenhagen criteria established due to

candidacy of numerous post-communist countries Democracy / free market / adoption of EU Law

With the accession of the countries in 1995: Population increased by 6% The area of the EU members increased by 35% The total GDP of the member states increased by

6.5% For the first and only time in any enlargement of

the EC/EU, the GDP per capita increased, by 0.20%

Fourth Enlargement - EU-15Fourth Enlargement - EU-15

2004: The Big Bang2004: The Big Bang

In 2004, 10 Eastern, mostly post communist, countries joined the EU Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,

Latvia, Luthuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Less developed states were fear of Western, more developed members Restrictions of certain members on travel/working rights

of eastern people in their countries Denmark, Finland, Austria

The Fifth EnlargementThe Fifth Enlargement

With the accession of the countries in 2004: Population increased by 20%, largest single

expansion in terms of number of people The area of the EU members increased by 18%,

largest single increase in terms of km2 The total GDP of the member states increased only

by 8.8% It was the largest fall of GDP per capita in any

enlargement. The accession of the less developed Eastern countries caused a 9% fall in GDP per capita

Sixth Enlargement - 2007Sixth Enlargement - 2007

The accession of Bulgaria and Romania Were supposed to join in 2004 Romania

Government and judiciary reforms not completed Bulgaria

More efforts needed in fight against corruption, human trafficking and reforming judicial sector

Sixth Enlargement - 2007Sixth Enlargement - 2007

With the accession of the countries in 2007: Population increased by 6.5% The area of the EU members increased by 8.5% The total GDP of the member states increased by

2% GDP per capita fell by 4%

2013: Croatia2013: Croatia After Slovenia, Croatia is the second country

from ex-Yugoslavia to join the EU. The European perspective remains open to

the entire Western Balkans region.